Pages

Friday, 29 January 2016

My five favourite reasons to run

The start of a running journey is rarely (if ever?) a case of love at first sight - a love for running is something you have to work for. Those first few plods around the block are almost without exception painfully frustrating, but stick it out long enough and you'll soon discover what the fuss is about. Heck, you'll even be able to come up with a whole list of excuses to run. Here's mine:

1. Endorphins

Aren't endorphins awesome?! They can literally take you from arghhh to ahhh in 5 km flat. This is, without a doubt, my No. 1 reason to run.

2. Other Runners

How awesome to have a group of beings that accept and understand the joy you get from running around in unflattering lycra at the crack of dawn on a freezing winter's morning... No hoo-ha, no eye-rolls and no lame jokes - just that knowing smile. Spending time with them is awesome!

They just get it! [Photo by Kimberley Harriers.]

3. Stress Release

Stressful day at the office? Run it off. The saying "I run, because punching people is frowned upon" describes me to a T - running is often my silent scream of frustration.

4. Running takes you places

I'll never get tired of running's ability to take you places. Want to take your travelling memories to a whole new level? Do it on the run.

Seaside runs for the win! [Photo by Johannes Bisschof.]

5. Running Gear

Just like the proverbial chicken and egg, I'm not too sure which one comes first: A love for running or a love for running gear... But I can promise you one thing: Within five minutes of blissfully wandering through a running store's isles (any running store's isles!), I never fail to identify at least five grand's worth of running gear that I absolutely adore. It's frightening.